Floyd Mayweather has a knack for remaining in the public eye in between fights, retaining a relevancy which helps keep his fanbase at the top of the pugilistic heap. But this morning's item on the gossip site TMZ is the sort of sensational item which could spell a heap of trouble for the fighter, who is counting down to his third fight of a six fight megadollar deal with Showtime.

That contract, the richest in all of sports, guarantees “Money” more than $30 million per outing, and the immensity of it has added to his allure in the last two years.

But the TMZ story, which cites only “sources familiar with the situation,” could gum up the works for Mayweathers' career moving forward. I reached out to Showtime boxing boss Stephen Espinoza on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after the TMZ story broke.

The programmer, who is also is an attorney, made it clear that he is monitoring the situation, but doesn't fear for the May 3 date in the least. “At this point, it's an unsourced, unverified..I hesitate to call it a story,” he said. “There's been no police investigation that anyone's aware of, certainly no charges, or interview, no civil suit, no indications that there's any real meat to the story. We'll keep an eye on it, but right now, there's nothing that we've seen that can really verify that there's something there beyond a rumor on a gossip site.

So they didn't hit the panic button over at Showtime then?

“We'll keep an eye on it just like we keep an eye on any legal issue involving with any boxer we do an event with it, but beyond that, no, at this point there's no panic,” he said.

No secret that Floyd did time after getting charged following a domestic spat with his ex. That could result in the legal guillotine dropping with that much more velocity if indeed this TMZ deal plays out as the site described, and authorities move forward to hash out the matter, and, perhaps, mete out punishment. Espinoza would seem to be well-suited to be able to assess the events, and potential ramifications, right?

In the realm of rumors, Espinoza is aware that the mill is churning out talk of a rift at Golden Boy, between day to day boss Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya. I asked him to weigh in, perhaps shed some light, clarify the chatter. “I'm not really aware of any internal strife,” he told me. “For my part, all of my interactions have historically been with Richard, and they continue to be with Richard, so nothing has changed from that perspective. And we continue to make fights, and schedule events, and stage great promotions, so in the near term, nothing has changed.

“I'm not as in the loop on internal stuff as when I used to represent them as a lawyer, so I'm sure I don't know the whole story, but we're continuing to move forward, and schedule events, the company is operating, and Richard is continuing to operate the company like he always has.”

COMMENTS

deepwater2 :

Oscar is angry because the Swiss banker is under cutting him and taking over his company . Oscar hired Richard and now Richard is the boss . As far as Espinoza he was at hbo but ran to show time at the advice of the shadow al haymon . What do you get when you put a Swiss banker , a shifty lawyer and the shadow ? I don't know but check for your watch and wallet . As far as the tmz thing who knows. They better send the Watson twins with a suitcase full of money to hush up those witnesses . Remember before the assaulting the girl Floyd's henchmen shot a gun into a car because the guy texted Floyd that he hopes he loses his fight so I can see Floyd's goons beating some sticky fingers . Lets see how it turns out

amayseng :

Oscar is angry because the Swiss banker is under cutting him and taking over his company . Oscar hired Richard and now Richard is the boss . As far as Espinoza he was at hbo but ran to show time at the advice of the shadow al haymon . What do you get when you put a Swiss banker , a shifty lawyer and the shadow ? I don't know but check for your watch and wallet . As far as the tmz thing who knows. [B]They better send the Watson twins [/B]with a suitcase full of money to hush up those witnesses . Remember before the assaulting the girl Floyd's henchmen shot a gun into a car because the guy texted Floyd that he hopes he loses his fight so I can see Floyd's goons beating some sticky fingers . Lets see how it turns out

hahaha
what do those guys do anyways?!

amayseng :

Oscar is angry because the Swiss banker is under cutting him and taking over his company . Oscar hired Richard and now Richard is the boss . As far as Espinoza he was at hbo but ran to show time at the advice of the shadow al haymon . What do you get when you put a Swiss banker , a shifty lawyer and the shadow ? I don't know but check for your watch and wallet . As far as the tmz thing who knows. [B]They better send the Watson twins [/B]with a suitcase full of money to hush up those witnesses . Remember before the assaulting the girl Floyd's henchmen shot a gun into a car because the guy texted Floyd that he hopes he loses his fight so I can see Floyd's goons beating some sticky fingers . Lets see how it turns out

hahaha
what do those guys do anyways?!

Makiba :

When I read this story earlier, I didn't think it has the depth of a true story; given that the law was not involved and knowing that Floyd Money Mayweather is not a stupid man. Yes, we all do stupid things sometimes out of anger by allowing our worst instinct to over come our better judgement. But in this instance where Mr. Mayweather has had a confinement experience, all reasons tell me he knows better notwithstanding being a wealthy boxer with its own implicating cirmstances, and perceptions.
However, I do suspect that this narrative/story is more narrative than a story, because it seems to me it is an underlayment for the forthcoming fight that is not sparking the public's imaginative interest. Therefore, surfacing this underlayment picks one's interest, imagination, curiosity and to some extent provides an anxious excitement for both Mr. Mayweather's distracters and supporters alike. Therein lies this "story" a sort of awakening of the fight at hand. My take, and hope I am right.......

brownsugar :

Resurrecting some old Mayweather mythology Makiba?
You may be onto something

brownsugar :

Resurrecting some old Mayweather mythology Makiba?
You may be onto something